Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-05-06
REGISTER.


1t is the duty of every Gentle legal
voter in the Territory to register. There
are reasons for it which bear strongly
upon the chances for future favorable
legislation for Utah. 1t will be strong
point for the Mormon Delegate and lobby
at Washington next winter, to show that
while the Mormons accepted the oath,
large proportion of the Gentiles rejected
it-that they did not make the best use
they could of the means afforded them to
change the political power from the
institution which has welded it from:the
organization of the Territory. 1t makes
no difference whether or not there is anv
probability OF achieving victory. Granting,
which is evident to every sensible per-
son, that no such general result can be
reasonably expected, it is none the less
the duty OF every loyalst to
exert himself to the utmost to
encourage the largest possible vote in
favor of the candidates presented in the
different counties, by the law-abiding and
Constitution-loving citizens. 1t should
not only be shown at Washington what
large number of persons, although in
the minority, are subjected to the politi-
cal control of an institution, which sub
verts every principle and ignores every
right which should be guaranteed to ali
American citizens living under the flag
of their country, but it should, moreover,
be made apparant that they accept in
good faith the laws given them by Con-
gress to effect at the ballot-box their own
redemption, and are willing to make the
best possible use of them for that purpose.
Sullen policy, sulking in tents, and the
acknowledgement of defeat before the
battle, will not help us in Congress,
but will be used as an effective weapon
against us by the assertion that the law
had not been properly tested, and the
argument that people are not worthy of
assistance who evince no disposition to
help themselves. Let the Gentiles do
the best they can under the circum-
stances. Let them fully prove the in
efficiency of the present law, by exerting
every effort to insure its success. They
can then go before Congress at the next
session with the consciousness of having
performed their duty, and confidently
ask of that body other means for the ac-
complisnment of that which they have
done their best, but Intellectually, to
secure. There are quite a number of
Gentiles, especially at Ogden, who, we
understand, have refused to register,
ascribing as their reason that the sub |
scription to such an oath as the Act de-
mands is degrading to American citizen
ship, and a lowering of the dignity
OF the elective franchise. While this is, |
perhaps, to a certain extent true, it should |
be remembered that no such condition
OF affairs exist elsewhere in the Repub- |
lie, and that unusual means have to be |
adopted here, which would not be adopted |
IN any other section OF the country.
Everyone should be willing to make such |
sacrifice, for the removal of the cause of
the necessity for such departure from
the usual election customs throughout
the Nation. Almost every loyal person
in the Territory, whose partizanship
did not exceed his devotion to Utah's
freedom, favored the adoption of the
Tucker bill as it passed the House. That
measure made all of the Offices in the |
Territory appointive, leaving only the
members of one branch OF the Legisla-
ture elective. Such policy would never
have been considered in Congress for any
other Territory under the United States |
Government. The peculiar and unpre-
cedented condition of affairs here. how
ever, necessitated a departure from the
general principles of both political parties,
as well as from the general policy of the
Federal Government in regard to its
Territorial dependencies. The oath test |
is another innovation which was deemed
essential in this particular instance, and
which will in all probability never be
urged as precedent for any other Con-
gressional legislation as long as the Re-
public exists. Under these circum-
stances it is difficult to imagine
why any loyal American should
object to submitting to such de-
parture from the usual course in other
States and Territories, to enable him
self to vote. 1t is in effect a rebuke to
Congress for going out of the usual course
in prescribing laws for the Government
of this priest-ridden, polygamous and
disloyal Territory We hope that every
Gentle will register and vote, thereby
evincing his willingness to fairly test the
law. 1t will be the best argument that
can be used in Congress for the passage
of better one.
,.-
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.